Table tennis clash off after Azerbaijan team is refused visas

AN international table tennis match between Ireland and Azerbaijan has been cancelled after the visiting team members were refused visas for entry to the country.

The Euro League qualifier was to be played at Lisburn Racquet Club next Thursday, but after failing to secure entry to the UK, the visitors have now been forced to forfeit the match.

Alan Strong, from Table Tennis Ireland, said that the news will be disappointing for the several hundred table tennis supporters who had planned to support the Irish team in the fixture.

“At this stage we’re not sure whether they were too slow in applying for visas, but we do know they were bringing some different players for the match,” he said.

“We understand forms were incomplete and the British Embassy in Turkey who were dealing with the application rejected it.

“There were concerns over evidence from parental support to get the players home and the fact the players were not the recognised team left the Embassy unimpressed with regards to the sporting profile of the team.

“It’s a big disappointment for us and for Lisburn Racquet Club.”

He added: “All we know is that there were talks between the Azerbaijan representatives and the British Embassy in Turkey after the issue was raised to see if the situation could be cleared up, but it appears that hasn’t been the case.”

The Home Office said that it does not comment on individual cases.

Table tennis fans will have to be content with watching British Premier League action instead with Owen Cathcart, home from his professional base in Sweden, leading out the Ormeau side in its topof-the-table clash with Urban on Saturday.

Cathcart (16) is one of Europe’s most exciting junior stars.